Coordinated Anglo-French Airstrike Hits Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - referred to as ISIS - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This strike shows British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.

UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among numerous UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."

In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The UN estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.